Although we’d been prepared for over a year, it was very sad that my son, Mike’s dog, Andy, died on June 2. It had been a consideration for months on whether or not Andy should be put to sleep. Some people opined that it should be done, but Andy didn’t quite meet all the criteria put out by veterinarians on when that is in order. As Andy’s condition worsened, we could see that he would soon fit all of the criteria and Mike would be making that decision very soon. Before that ever came to fruition, Andy died naturally, as we had hoped, unfortunately, Andy was alone at the time. 

Michael and Andy had a remarkably strong bond that began at their first encounter and long before Andy became Mike’s dog. About eleven years ago, Andy had moved from Texas to Rockland County, NY with his former family, John, Jennifer, and their son, Jack. Mike had met John when John had arrived ahead of the family to find a home. He was deciding between homes in different areas of the county and became confident in the choice of Nyack after Mike shared his personal experience of the village. After settling into their new home, Andy would get very excited when his family mentioned Mike, and on one occasion when Mike visited them, Andy frantically began digging a hole under a fence in his excitement to get to Mike. Mike would often pick up Andy and take him downtown or to the Hudson River in Nyack. At the river, Andy would go into the water and chase the ducks and geese. 

Andy had learned that game when he went out on the boat that his family owned. Andy happened to be very fond of cats, and enjoyed a special bond with one of their family cats, Lucy. 

When the family was away, Mike would stay at their house to care for Andy and “his cat”. Five years later, Jennifer told Mike that Andy had lost weight and wasn’t eating much. The veterinarian didn’t find a cause, but Mike later learned that Andy’s beloved, Lucy, had been rehomed. Jenifer said maybe Andy needed some Mike-time and that they were moving away and may be rehoming Andy, as well. Mike offered to keep Andy for a few weeks while they decided what to do. Andy regained his appetite and was beginning to gain some of the lost weight. The family ended up moving away, and Andy, having lost everyone else that he loved, remained with Mike on a permanent basis.